The Tampa Bay Rays’ James Shields dominated opponents during interleague play last season.

The same can’t be said for Tommy Hanson, who hasn’t experienced much recent success against AL clubs.

With a chance to become the majors’ first seven-game winner, Shields takes the hill opposite Hanson on Friday night when the Rays open a three-game set with the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves.

Shields, who enjoyed a career year in 2011 by going 16-12 with a 2.82 ERA, posted especially impressive numbers over four starts against the NL. The All-Star right-hander opened interleague play with three complete game victories before dropping to 3-1 with a 1.32 ERA following somewhat of a rocky display during a 4-3 loss to Cincinnati on June 29. When all was said and done, Shields struck out 42 and walked just four over 34 innings while opponents hit just .145 against him.

In his only career appearance against Atlanta (24-15), Shields gave up three runs over six frames during a 3-1 road loss June 17, 2010. Shields has had his way with Dan Uggla, limiting him to just three hits in 15 at-bats in their matchups.

“We’ve faced a lot of those guys before. I think I’m the only one on the staff who faced the National League East in the past,” Shields told the team’s official website. “They’re a good team. They’re a good squad. We can’t take them lightly. We have to keep playing our game.”

Though his ERA went up to 3.52, Shields improved to 6-1 this season after giving up six runs – four earned – over 6 1-3 innings of Sunday’s 9-8 win at Baltimore. Shields is surely looking forward to getting back home, where he’s gone 8-0 with a 2.48 ERA over 10 starts – all Rays wins – dating to last year.

Hanson (4-3, 3.43), meanwhile, improved to 3-1 over his last five outings after striking out a season-high nine over five innings of one-run ball during Sunday’s 7-4 victory at St. Louis.

“I felt good with everything and for the most part did a good job of locating,” he said.

Hanson, though, could find it difficult to build on last weekend’s effort given his recent struggles in interleague play. Since compiling a 0.75 ERA in winning his first four career starts against the AL, the right-hander has gone 1-2 with a 9.78 ERA over his last four.

Hanson scattered three hits over seven shutout innings of a 6-2 victory over Tampa Bay (24-15) on June 16, 2010.

Winners of nine of 13, the Braves defeated Miami 7-0 on Thursday behind Brandon Beachy’s five-hitter. Beachy struck out six and walked zero in throwing his first career shutout.

Atlanta won nine straight in interleague play June 19-July 2 before falling 5-4 to the Orioles on July 3. The Braves have outscored Tampa Bay 113-77 in taking 15 of 21 all-time meetings between the teams.

Coming off a two-game split with Boston, Tampa Bay’s four-game winning streak was snapped Thursday with a 5-3 defeat. Matt Moore dropped to 1-4 on the season while Luke Scott, Carlos Pena, Elliot Johnson and Chris Gimenez – the club’s 3-5-7-8 hitters, went a combined 0 for 15.

Since winning 13 of their first 14 games on their own field, the Rays have dropped three of four at home thanks in part to going 5 for 34 (.147) with runners in scoring position.

Cody Ross helped the Boston Red Sox rebound from a frustrating loss.

Ross homered and drove in four runs, Felix Doubront won his third consecutive start and the Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-3, on Thursday night.

“I was going after this game tonight,” Boston manager Bobby Valentine said. “The guys really wanted this game, and I was just going to do everything we could to win it. Just frustration (from Wednesday’s loss), and we wanted to get back into the winning ways.”

The Red Sox were beaten, 2-1, on Wednesday. The Rays’ go-ahead run scored when Ross, in right field, had problems with the Tropicana Field roof and had to backpedal to catch Luke Scott’s shallow sacrifice fly.

Ross extended Boston’s lead to 5-2 Thursday on a two-run single off reliever Wade Davis with two outs in the eighth.

“Cody was big,” Valentine said. “Cody will give you everything he has, and it’s enough for me.”

Doubront (4-1) allowed two runs and six hits over 52/3 innings. The left-hander was hit on the ear by a ball during batting practice Tuesday and cleared one day later to make his scheduled start.

Matt Moore (1-4) gave up three runs and five hits in six innings for Tampa Bay, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.

“I thought he finished really strong,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “That’s definitely a game to build off. He definitely pitched well enough to win. Confidence is a big thing. I know he’s going to sleep better. Despite the loss, he’s going to feel better about himself. That’s just a right step in the right direction.”

Moore retired his last 10 batters. He struck out eight and walked one.

Alfredo Aceves, the fifth Boston reliever, got four outs for his eighth save. He allowed B.J Upton’s RBI single with two outs in the eighth.

After falling behind in the count 0-2, Ross worked a bases-loaded walk off Moore to put the Red Sox up 1-0 in the first. Moore avoided further damage by striking out Daniel Nava to end the inning.

Boston went ahead 2-0 on Marlon Byrd’s second-inning homer. Ross made it 3-0 with his seventh homer, on an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the third.

Jeff Keppinger got the Rays within 3-1 on an RBI single in the third. Upton reached base with two outs when Kelly Shoppach was charged with catcher’s interference and went to second when Luke Scott was hit by a pitch.

Rich Thompson, who has played in 1,388 minor league games, cut the Tampa Bay deficit to 3-2 with his first big league hit, a run-scoring single in the fourth. Thompson, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia on Wednesday, also stole second and third after his hit.

The Rays loaded the bases later in the fourth with two outs, but Scott hit a hard liner that was caught by first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

“We always have pretty good series against the Rays,” Boston shortstop Mike Aviles said. “The fact they won (Wednesday) in a close game, and another close game today, it’s definitely good to get that win. Bobby did the right thing mixing and matching later in the game.”

Aviles was ejected in the seventh by plate umpire Dan Bellino for arguing after striking out. It was his first career ejection.

“Guys had complaints tonight and I was with them,” Valentine said. “We’ve got to fight through it, that’s for sure. We’re trying our hardest, and I think they’re trying their hardest, too.”

Tampa Bay second baseman Will Rhymes was not in the lineup a night after being hit by a pitch in the right arm, fainting after walking to first base and having to be driven off the field on a cart. Maddon said Rhymes, who is day to day with a bruised right forearm, was feeling better and wanted to take batting practice but the team trainer wouldn’t allow it.

Around the bases

Tampa Bay senior adviser Don Zimmer returned to Tropicana Field for a game for the first time since the opening weekend of the season against the New York Yankees. The 81-year-old ex-Red Sox and Cubs manager has been undergoing dialysis for kidney problems. … Valentine said DH David Ortiz will play first base and Gonzalez will move to right field for at least one game of this weekend’s interleague series at Philadelphia. … Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria (partial tear left hamstring) took grounders and continues taking batting practice.

ST. PETERSBURG — A night after their five-game winning streak was stopped, the Boston Red Sox regained their mid-May momentum, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 at Tropicana Field on Thursday. Cody Ross had a bases-loaded walk, solo home run and two-run single, and Marlon Byrd hit his first home run for Boston, helping the Red Sox gain a split in the two-game series. Felix Doubront (4-1) won his third consecutive start, allowing two runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. The Rays lost for the first time in five games and only the fourth this year at home. They made it interesting in the eighth, pulling to 5-3 on B.J. Upton’s RBI single and getting two runners in scoring position before Alfredo Aceves got Luke Scott to ground out to end the threat. Matt Moore (1-4), the Rays’ touted 22-year-old rookie, struggled in the early innings before settling in. He retired the side in his final three frames before leaving after six innings with his team trailing 3-2. Balls-and-strikes calls were an issue for the Red Sox for a second consecutive night. Adrian Gonzalez complained after Boston’s 2-1 loss Wednesday that it was hard to have “a professional at-bat” with the umpiring, and Thursday, shortstop and leadoff man Mike Aviles received his first career ejection in the seventh inning for arguing a two-out, third strike call by Dan Bellino. Righty reliever Burke Badenhop struck out the side in that frame, also getting Byrd and Kelly Shoppach. The Rays scored single runs in the third and fourth against Doubront after Boston took a 3-0 lead and threatened again in the sixth, when Ben Zobrist singled with two out and Upton doubled to put runners at first and third. Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine took the ball from Doubront, and lefty Rich Hill came on and got Scott to fly out to left. Ross’s two-run single off Wade Davis in the eighth broke the game open. The Red Sox loaded the bases and scored one run in the first against Moore, the touted rookie who has struggled with his location and high pitch counts. Aviles and David Ortiz singled, and Gonzalez, who had predicted to the Boston media he would hit a home run Thursday night, took a first-pitch fastball to the hip area. After Moore struck out Will Middlebrooks for the second out, Ross took a close 2-2 pitch off the outside corner for a ball, fouled off a couple of pitches, and drew an RBI walk. By the time Moore struck out Daniel Nave for the third out, he’d thrown 33 pitches. Byrd’s led off with a home run in the second and Ross’ two-out solo home run in the third put Boston ahead 3-0. Byrd, acquired from the Chicago Cubs last month, homered for the first time for his new team. Ross, who had homers in back-to-back games against Tampa Bay in April, hit his seventh of the year. The Rays punched back with one run each in the third and the fourth innings. Jeff Keppinger’s line-drive single to left scored B.J. Upton after a two-out rally began with a catcher’s interference call against Shoppach. Then, in the fourth, Rich Thompson’s two-out single up the middle scored Sean Rodriguez to pull the Rays to 3-2. Thompson was making his first major league start, at age 33 and a day after the Rays acquired him from the Phillies. His only previous major league at-bat had come in 2004 for Kansas City, when he hit into a double play against catcher Tim Laker, who was pitching in a mop-up role. Thompson wasn’t done, either. He followed his RBI single by stealing second and third base before the Rays left the bases loaded when Scott hit a hard line drive to first baseman Gonzalez. NOTES: Rays infielder Will Rhymes (bruised right forearm) was not in the starting lineup after getting hit by a pitch and passing out at first base Wednesday night, but he said he could take the field as soon as Friday. He said watching a replay of the incident was “kind of tough” and that he hadn’t realized “I was out like that.” … Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis (lower back strain), who began a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday, will play his second game Friday (and first in the field). Right-handed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka (right elbow surgery) made his fifth minor league rehab start for Pawtucket. … The Rays are intrigued by newly acquired Thompson’s 442 minor league stolen bases, including an International League-leading 48 last year. “He’s been able to maintain his speed over time, and that’s a big part of why he’s still attractive,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. … Ortiz will likely play at least one game at first base in the weekend interleague series at Philadelphia, manager Bobby Valentine said. Gonzalez would move to right field. … Rays third baseman Evan Longoria (partial hamstring tear) worked on his hand-eye coordination before the game by taking grounders from his knees. … The Rays still haven’t announced who’ll pitch for injured Jeff Niemann on Saturday against Atlanta, but it will likely be Alex Cobb or Chris Archer from Triple-A Durham.

Despite riding high in 1st place in the AL East, the injuries keep mounting for the Tampa Bay Rays. Certainly the baseball season is lengthy and such wounds are par for the course of 162 games. However, it appears that the injury bug has taken a liking to the confines of Tropicana Field and struck the team quite harshly during the first quarter of the season. Here is a look at the multiple members of the Rays that continue to spend far too much time in the training room.

Robinson Chirinos: The 2nd year catcher received his first taste of the major leagues in 2011, when he hit .218 in 55 at bats with the Rays. Expected to compete for the backup catching spot, the 27 year-old sustained a concussion in spring training and was placed on the 60 day disabled list in March. Jose Lobaton was instead named the team’s second catcher.

Sam Fuld: Though he cooled off late in the season, Fuld was a valuable utility outfielder for the Rays in 2011. Since manager Joe Maddon loves tinkering with the lineup, the 30 year-old was expected to provide depth off the bench in 2012. After injuring his wrist in an exhibition game, Fuld required surgery and was placed on the 60 day disabled list in early April. He is expected to miss at least 4 months, which makes a return in August or September possible.

Kyle Farnsworth: With 25 saves, Farnsworth was surprisingly effective as the Rays’ closer last year. Despite elbow soreness in September, the team believed an off-season of rest would help and picked up the veteran’s option for 2012. After pitching in spring training, however, the problem re-surfaced and Farnsworth was immediately shut down. Tampa Bay placed him on the 60 day disabled list and continues to hope surgery is not needed.

Jose Lobaton: The Venezuela native began the season as the club’s backup catcher. He played in 4 contests before being removed from a mid-April game with a sore shoulder. Lobaton was soon added to the 15 day disabled list, while Chris Gimenez has assumed the backup role for the Rays. Lobaton has recently begun rehabbing with the minor league Charlotte Stone Crabs, where he has played in 2 games and is hitless in 5 at bats.

Evan Longoria: No injury stung more bitterly than the loss of the Rays’ best hitter, who was hitting .329 with 4 home runs and 19 RBI during a torrid first month of 2012. After already overcoming an injured wrist in spring training, Longo tore his left hamstring on a stolen base attempt during an April 30 game. He was immediately placed on the 15 day disabled list and is expected to need 6-8 weeks to heal. Though Will Rhymes was added to the roster in his place, Sean Rodriguez and Jeff Keppinger have received most of the playing time at 3rd base.

Brandon Allen: It seemed like Rays fans hardly knew Allen, before he was sidelined with a right quad strain. The 26 year-old began the season with the Oakland A’s, but the first baseman/outfielder was claimed off waivers by the Rays on April 19. He was signed to provide a lefty bat off the bench and did deliver a game-winning home run in an April 26th game against the Los Angeles Angels. Allen is on the 15 day disabled list and could return by the end of May. Brandon Guyer was recalled from Durham to fill his role and serve as an extra outfielder.

Desmond Jennings: In his first full season as the Rays’ everyday left fielder, Jennings strained his left knee when sliding into home plate on May 6. Hoping to avoid placement on the growing DL, the 25 year-old was limited to pinch hitting duties for the past week while receiving treatment on the knee. With the strategy not working, the Rays finally placed Jennings on the 15 day disabled list retroactive to May 12. Utilityman Stephen Vogt was recalled in his place and Matt Joyce will likely be shifted to left field.

Jeff Niemann: The tall righty won the competitive job to serve as the club’s 5th starting pitcher in spring training. In 6 starts, it appeared Joe Maddon made the correct decision, as Niemann sported a solid 3.37 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 33 innings of work. However, Niemann disappointingly sustained a fracture to his right fibula upon being hit by a ball during a May 14th start against the Toronto Blue Jays. He is expected to miss at least a month and was added to the 15 day disabled list on May 15. Bullpen pitcher Wade Davis and minor-league prospect Alex Cobb are likely candidates to assume Niemann’s spot.

Sources:

Yahoo! Sports, Sportsillustrated.cnn.com, TBO.com.

More by Jeff Briscoe from Yahoo! Contributor Network:

Rays and Orioles Meet in 1st Place Showdown

Jeff Briscoe is a regular contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and a follower of the Tampa Bay Rays . He co-hosts The Sports Train radio show on 1580am WCCF in Southwest Florida.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — During pregame stretch Tuesday, shortstop Erick Aybar embraced Fernando Rodney and playfully tugged at the Tampa Bay Rays closer’s goatee. Rodney shook hands with Albert Pujols and hugged several Angels relievers.

There were no such pleasantries between Rodney and Angels Manager Mike Scioscia, not after Rodney, the former Angels reliever, fell out of favor with Scioscia and was buried on the bench in August and September.

“I haven’t talked to him, I won’t seek him out,” Rodney said of Scioscia. “There’s nothing to really say about last year. All I can say is I’m here, I have an opportunity, and I’m doing great.”

Indeed, Rodney has a 1.23 earned-run average and five saves in nine games, limiting opponents to an .083 average in 71/3 innings. Only four of 26 batters he has faced have reached base, two on singles and two on walks.

This will come as a surprise to Angels fans who remember Rodney as the hard-throwing right-hander who couldn’t find the strike zone and could not be trusted in key situations for much of 2011.

Rodney opened the season as the Angels closer and lost the job to rookie Jordan Walden in the first weekend. He appeared in 25 games through May but sat out five weeks of June and July because of a back strain and appeared in only 14 games the rest of the season, finishing with a 3-5 record, 4.50 ERA, 28 walks and 26 strikeouts in 32 innings.

“I don’t know how you can make a decision like that in the first three games,” Rodney said. “They took me out of the closer spot, and the other guy led the league [with 10] blown saves. I don’t know how that works.”

Scioscia said Rodney’s problems started in September 2010, when he “wasn’t as sharp as he usually is,” the manager said. “That seemed to carry over into 2011, when he was not as comfortable. He missed five weeks with the back injury and never got back in sync. The arm was there, but he couldn’t locate it.”

Where’s Mark Trumbo?

Mark Trumbo knew he could play five positions this season. The utility player did not, however, expect to play all five within a five-game span.

But there was Trumbo in right field Tuesday night, capping a five-game string in which he started at designated hitter Thursday, left field Friday, third base Saturday and first base Sunday.

“It’s fairly interesting,” said Trumbo, who was pushed off first by the signing of Pujols. “At the same time, it’s exciting.”

Tropicana Field’s greyish, opaque roof can make it difficult for veteran outfielders to pick up the ball, but Trumbo handled the only ball hit to him, going back on Carlos Pena’s first-inning drive before scooting in to catch it.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 24 (UPI) — David Price hurled a five-hit shutout Tuesday and the Tampa Bay Rays belted four homers in their 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

Price (3-1) tamed the Angels on five hits, issuing only one walk while striking out six en route to his second career shutout and first since 2010.

The left-hander allowed only one runner to reach as far as third base and tossed 80 of his 119 pitches for strikes in the dominating performance, which handed the Rays a win in the opener of a three-game set.

Desmond Jennings, Luke Scott, B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena each hit solo homers in the victory.

The Angels’ Ervin Santana (0-4) lost a fourth straight start to start the season, allowing five runs on eight hits over five frames.

The Tampa Bay Rays have one of the deepest and most talented starting pitching rotations in the Major Leagues. They’re in the same class as the starting rotations for the Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals.

Every starting rotation has an ace. The Phillies have Roy Halladay, the Giants have Tim Lincecum, the Angles have Jered Weaver and the Nationals have Stephen Strasburg.

Over the past two seasons James Shields has re-established himself as the clear ace of the Rays staff.

In 2007, when the Rays were still the perennial bottom feeding Devil Rays, Shields first became entrenched as the most consistent pitcher in Tampa Bay. It was his first full season in the Major Leagues and he posted a solid 12-8 record with a 3.85 ERA while throwing 215 innings.

Shields continued to be the face of the Rays pitching staff in 2008 when he anchored a rotation that led the Rays all the way to the World Series. Along the way Shields posted a 14-8 record with a 3.56 ERA over 215 innings. He tossed three complete games and two shutouts. In 2008 he lived up to his nickname, “Big Game”.

Unfortunately, Shields saw his effectiveness decrease in 2009 when he went 11-12 with a 4.14 ERA.

David Price, the Rays flame throwing lefty, surpassed Shields as the ace of the Rays staff in 2010 while leading the Rays to their second AL East title in three years. During that season Price went 19-6 with a 2.72 ERA.

One of the few disappointments for the Rays in 2010 was the performance of James Shields. His record slipped to 13-15 and his ERA ballooned up to 5.18. Rays fans stopped calling him “Big Game” and his nickname became “James Yields”.

Before the 2011 season, the Rays coaching staff talked about how they had corrected Shields mechanics and expected him to once again be one of the elite pitchers in the American League. Shields and the Rays were optimistic that he would return to the form he displayed from 2007-2008, but Rays’ fans were skeptical.

In 2011, Shields wasn’t the same “Big Game” Rays fans saw in 2007 and 2008. He was even better. He posted career bests in wins (16), ERA (2.82), complete games (11), shutouts (4), innings pitched (249.1) and strike outs (225). His exceptional performance was rewarded by being chosen for his first All-Star game and finishing third in the AL Cy Young voting.

Based on his stellar performance in 2011, the Rays named Shields their opening day starter for the 2012 season. At the start of the season the Rays talked about how they were fortunate to have two number one starters in their rotation. Shields was 1 and David Price was 1-A.

The 2012 season got off to a shaky start for Shields. During the season opener, against the New York Yankees, he gave up six earned runs in just five innings. However, in his last three starts (3-0), Shields has been lights out. He’s thrown 24.1 innings and allowed just three runs en route to victories over the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins.

While continuing to prove that he is one of the top pitchers in the AL, Shields has clearly established himself as the true number one starter in the Rays rotation.

Sean McDonnell has been a resident of the Tampa Bay area for the past 21 years. He is an avid fan of the Tampa Bay Rays; Tampa Bay Bucs and USF Bulls.

*statistics provided by Yahoo sports

Sources:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/shielja02.shtml

Additional articles from this author:

Rays Feel Good Story Comes to an End as Upton Returns from the DL: A Fan’s Take

David Price Continues to Labor as Rays Pound Jays: A Fan’s Take

Rays Offense Continues to Struggle as They Await Upton’s Return: A Fan’s Take

Are the Rays Early Season Pitching Woes a Cause for Concern?: A Fan’s Take

Four Possible Replacements for Sam Fuld: A Fan’s Take

DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera doubled and scored on Prince Fielder’s single, part of a snowy eighth-inning rally that gave the Detroit Tigers a 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.

After Fielder’s tiebreaking single, a light snow shower passed briefly over Comerica Park. Jhonny Peralta added a sacrifice fly later in the inning, and Gerald Laird’s RBI single gave the Tigers a three-run lead. Phil Coke (1-0) pitched the eighth, and Jose Valverde finished for his first save of the season.

Valverde blew a save for the first time since 2010 in Thursday’s opener against Boston.

Austin Jackson homered for Detroit, which is the AL’s last unbeaten team after handing the Rays their first defeat.

Rick Porcello allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings for the Tigers in a game that began amid snow flurries with the temperature in the 40s. Porcello struck out four and walked one.

Tampa Bay’s Matt Moore allowed two runs and four hits in 6 2-3 innings. He walked five – one intentionally – and struck out four in his second career regular-season start. The 22-year-old also started a playoff game last year, not long after making his debut.

The Rays intentionally walked Cabrera in the fifth to load the bases for Fielder, and the move worked when he lifted a routine fly to left that ended the inning. With first base open in the eighth, Tampa Bay chose to pitch to Fielder. He singled up the middle off Jake McGee (0-1), and Cabrera lumbered around to score for a 3-2 lead.

Tampa Bay had gone ahead 2-1 in the seventh on an RBI infield single by Desmond Jennings, but Jackson homered in the bottom half off Moore.

Detroit has won its first four games – three in its final at-bat. The Rays lost for the first time after a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees. It was their first regular-season loss in nine games. They won their last five of 2011 to snatch a surprising playoff berth.

Tampa Bay opened the scoring in the third when Evan Longoria drew a bases-loaded walk. Detroit tied it in the bottom half when Moore’s wild pitch enabled Jackson to score.

NOTES: Tampa Bay OF Luke Scott missed the game and is day to day with a tight left hamstring. … Tigers manager Jim Leyland said INF Brandon Inge (strained left groin) was heading to Triple-A Toledo for a rehabilitation assignment Tuesday night. … Leyland also said LHP Adam Wilk will pitch Saturday against the White Sox in Chicago. Detroit had a vacancy in its rotation after Doug Fister went on the DL with a left side strain. … There also was a light snow shower in the fifth inning. … Tampa Bay used a starting pitcher age 30 or younger for a 900th consecutive game, a streak dating to 2006.

Earlier on HuffPost:

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The Texas Rangers have traded Mattoon’s Kyle Hudson to the Tampa Rays as the major-league baseball season gets started.

Hudson, who began last year in Class A and advanced to the majors with the Baltimore Orioles last September, was released by the Orioles over the winter.

He then signed with the Rangers, who cut sent him to the minors the past week.

On Saturday, the Rays obtained the outfielder.

See more in Monday’s JG-TC.

Josh Beckett had no problem pitching against a division rival so close to the start of the regular season.

Beckett tossed five innings of one-hit ball and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-0 on Tuesday.

“Josh is working on his changeup a little, and I thought threw a lot of really good pitches today,” manager Bobby Valentine said. “I think he got his work in, put up a bunch of zeros, was competitive working against their hitters and I think that’s what he needed. He’ll have one more short (start). But he had pretty good stuff today.”

Beckett struck out five and walked three while lowering his spring ERA to 0.95 in five starts. He threw 84 pitches, 49 for strikes.

The All-Star right-hander thinks he is very close to being ready to start the season, but still has things to work on.

“As far as arm strength and stuff goes there’s still stuff you got to figure out during the season, too,” he said. “I think if you hit the ground running in April, you’re probably not very old. So spring training’s, in my opinion, a little bit long. But it’s to get everybody ready.”

Beckett is scheduled to start Boston’s home opener on April 13 against the Rays. This was the only time he faced them in spring training.

“I think you could face a team once during spring training,” he said. “But, yeah, I definitely think there comes a familiar approach, if you will, especially when it comes to how you got to a pitch or how you got a guy out. The more times he sees that the more times he’s going to have either video or a mental log of, ‘OK, this is how he got me out. This is what he’s going to do this time.’”

Tampa Bay was shut out for this third time this spring. The Rays managed just three hits; a double by Jose Lobaton, and singles from Desmond Jennings and Ben Zobrist.

Cody Ross hit a three-run homer off Joel Peralta in the second. He leads the Red Sox with four home runs this spring.

With Tampa Bay’s James Shields pitching in a minor league game, reliever Fernando Rodney started for the Rays and threw one hitless inning.

Rays right-hander Brandon Gomes, coming off back surgery, recorded two outs in the seventh and was charged with four runs. He walked four and allowed one hit.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said he felt Gomes, coming off back surgery, was close to being completely healthy but not quite there yet. Gomes agreed.

“I’m confident I’m still very close to where I need to be,” he said.

NOTES: The Red Sox made a series of roster moves. SS Jose Iglesias and 1B Lars Anderson were optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket. RHPs Justin Germano and Doug Mathis and OF Josh Kroeger were reassigned to minor league camp. … The Red Sox are off on Wednesday, but will have several pitchers in minor league games. RHPs Clay Buchholz and Andrew Bailey are scheduled to pitch in the Triple-A game, while RHPs Aaron Cook and Vicente Padilla are scheduled to pitch in the Double-A game. … Maddon said RHP Jeff Niemann would remain in the rotation, with RHP Wade Davis going to the bullpen. Maddon did not set the order, but the rotation also includes James Shields, David Price, Jeremy Hellickson and Matt Moore. … Rays CF B.J. Upton, who has been hampered by an ailing back, expects to be in the lineup on opening day. … Rays OF Sam Fuld will get a second opinion on his ailing right wrist. … Tampa Bay SS Reid Brignac, who has been limited by an ailing foot, said if he gets through a minor league game on Tuesday, he will play in the major league game Wednesday.

Beckett goes 5 shutout innings, Red Sox beat Rays

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) Josh Beckett had no problem pitching against a division rival so close to the start of the regular season.

Beckett tossed five innings of one-hit ball and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-0 on Tuesday.

“Josh is working on his changeup a little, and I thought threw a lot of really good pitches today,” manager Bobby Valentine said. “I think he got his work in, put up a bunch of zeros, was competitive working against their hitters and I think that’s what he needed. He’ll have one more short (start). But he had pretty good stuff today.”

Beckett struck out five and walked three while lowering his spring ERA to 0.95 in five starts. He threw 84 pitches, 49 for strikes.

The All-Star right-hander thinks he is very close to being ready to start the season, but still has things to work on.

“As far as arm strength and stuff goes there’s still stuff you got to figure out during the season, too,” he said. “I think if you hit the ground running in April, you’re probably not very old. So spring training’s, in my opinion, a little bit long. But it’s to get everybody ready.”

Beckett is scheduled to start Boston’s home opener on April 13 against the Rays. This was the only time he faced them in spring training.

“I think you could face a team once during spring training,” he said. “But, yeah, I definitely think there comes a familiar approach, if you will, especially when it comes to how you got to a pitch or how you got a guy out. The more times he sees that the more times he’s going to have either video or a mental log of, `OK, this is how he got me out. This is what he’s going to do this time.’”

Tampa Bay was shut out for this third time this spring. The Rays managed just three hits; a double by Jose Lobaton, and singles from Desmond Jennings and Ben Zobrist.

Cody Ross hit a three-run homer off Joel Peralta in the second. He leads the Red Sox with four home runs this spring.

With Tampa Bay’s James Shields pitching in a minor league game, reliever Fernando Rodney started for the Rays and threw one hitless inning.

Rays right-hander Brandon Gomes, coming off back surgery, recorded two outs in the seventh and was charged with four runs. He walked four and allowed one hit.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said he felt Gomes, coming off back surgery, was close to being completely healthy but not quite there yet. Gomes agreed.

“I’m confident I’m still very close to where I need to be,” he said.

NOTES: The Red Sox made a series of roster moves. SS Jose Iglesias and 1B Lars Anderson were optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket. RHPs Justin Germano and Doug Mathis and OF Josh Kroeger were reassigned to minor league camp. … The Red Sox are off on Wednesday, but will have several pitchers in minor league games. RHPs Clay Buchholz and Andrew Bailey are scheduled to pitch in the Triple-A game, while RHPs Aaron Cook and Vicente Padilla are scheduled to pitch in the Double-A game. … Maddon said RHP Jeff Niemann would remain in the rotation, with RHP Wade Davis going to the bullpen. Maddon did not set the order, but the rotation also includes James Shields, David Price, Jeremy Hellickson and Matt Moore. … Rays CF B.J. Upton, who has been hampered by an ailing back, expects to be in the lineup on opening day. … Rays OF Sam Fuld will get a second opinion on his ailing right wrist. … Tampa Bay SS Reid Brignac, who has been limited by an ailing foot, said if he gets through a minor league game on Tuesday, he will play in the major league game Wednesday.

Updated March 27, 2012

PORT CHARLOTTE -

The general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays spoke out for the first time after one of the team’s players was arrested, accused of driving drunk and seriously injuring a man on a motorcycle.

“We’re still collecting information. We’re all very surprised and saddened by what happened. We can’t say too much right now,” he said.

Friedman continued to say it is likely Bush won’t be back playing on the field for the Rays again.

And have also learned new information about the vehicle Bush was driving the night of the crash. It was owned by another Tampa Bay Rays player, Brandon Guyer.

We also found out the victims family is blaming the Tampa Bay Rays for bringing Matt Bush to Charlotte County and causing the crash. 

Tony Tufano’s family says he has taken a turn for the worse.

The 72-year-old North Port man is now hooked up to a respirator in the ICU at Lee Memorial Hospital.

FHP says an inebriated Bush hit Tufano while on US-41 south in Port Charlotte.

“My father is strong in many ways. He has much more life to live. It will be a long hard road to recovery,” said Tufano’s son, Bernard Tufano.

Bernard spoke with is for the first time following Bush’s court appearance Saturday when a judge called Bush a danger to the community.

The player faces 7 criminal charges, including multiple DUI offenses.

Now, Tufano’s family is blaming the Rays for bringing Bush to Charlotte County at all knowing he has a prior drunk driving record.

“I believe the Tampa Bay Rays organization is responsible for inviting Matt Bush into my community,” Bernard Tufano said.

Right now, Bush is being held on $1,015,000 bond. His attorney Russell Kirshy says he plans to put in a request to reduce that to about $20,000.

“I think that setting $5,000 bond on each of the felonies and $1,000 on each other misdemeanors is appropriate,” he said.

But Bernard says he deserves to stay in jail permanently.

“When told by FHP that this should be a wake up call, Matt bush replied, ‘ No its not. I’ve been there done that.’ He shows no remorse. We want him to remain in jail,” Bernard said.

The Tampa Bay Rays are accustomed to challenges playing in the tough American League East. Their Interleague Play schedule for 2012 will pose a challenge, but not one the team will be unable to overcome.

Interleague Play brings about the same passion and debate as that of the designated hitter and the recent addition of another wild-card team to the Major League Baseball Playoffs. Love it or hate it, the fact remains it is here to stay and will go through additional development when the Houston Astros join the American League.

Instead of a series in May and a two-week stretch in June, Interleague Play is expected to occur all season in some form. It will certainly change the game once again-for better or worse.

Note: All start times Eastern

May 2012

Fri 18, Atlanta Braves at Tampa Bay Rays, 7:10 p.m.

Sat 19, Atlanta Braves at Tampa Bay Rays, 4:10 p.m.

Sun 20, Atlanta Braves at Tampa Bay Rays, 1:40 p.m.

June 2012

Fri 8, Tampa Bay Rays at Miami Marlins, 7:10 p.m.

Sat 9, Tampa Bay Rays at Miami Marlins, 7:15 p.m.

Sun 10, Tampa Bay Rays at Miami Marlins, 1:10 p.m.

Tue 12, New York Mets at Tampa Bay Rays, 7:10 p.m.

Wed 13, New York Mets at Tampa Bay Rays, 7:10 p.m.

Thu 14, New York Mets at Tampa Bay Rays, 1:10 p.m.

Fri 15, Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays, 7:10 p.m.

Sat 16, Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays, 7:15 p.m.

Sun 17, Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays, 7:05 p.m.

Tue 19, Tampa Bay Rays at Washington Nationals, 7:05 p.m.

Wed 20, Tampa Bay Rays at Washington Nationals, 7:05 p.m.

Thu 21, Tampa Bay Rays at Washington Nationals, 7:05 p.m.

Fri 22, Tampa Bay Rays at Philadelphia Phillies, 7:05 p.m.

Sat 23, Tampa Bay Rays at Philadelphia Phillies, 4:05 p.m.

Sun 24, Tampa Bay Rays at Philadelphia Phillies, 1:35 p.m.

Sources:

All data provided by MLB.com

Paul Rados is a Cleveland based freelance sportswriter and Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook.